Batten clamp



Jan. 11, 1949; o. LAMOTHE Erm. 2,458,787

BATTEN CLAMP 2 sheets-sheet 1 Filed vMay 25, 1945 Attorneys.

Jan.v 11, 1949. o. LAMOTHE. ET AL 2,458,787

BATTEN CLAMP vFiled May 23, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Imp-ml Wl l. jg 35 mllllliil /f g 'j @A i.

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M l i l /zeJzbzea/fzo/ze di-7% Inventors Attorneys Patented Jan. 11, 1949 BATTEN CLAMP Onsime Lamothe, Champlain,

Quebec, and

Joseph Albert Lamothe, Lachine, Quebec,

Canada Application May 23, 1945, Serial No. 595,286

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to an adjustable clamp and, more particularly, such a clamp for retaining in place the tarpaulin-securing battens of ship hatches.

The primary object of the invention, therefore, resides in the provision of hatten-retaining means for ship hatches which are highly efiicient and reliable for the purpose in View. y

Another obj ect is the provision of means vof the character defined, which can be brought rapidly in action even under adverse climatic conditions.

Another object contemplates hatten-retaining means which are easily operable with a minimum of simple tools.

A further object envisages batteri clamps for ship hatches which are relatively inexpensive, easy to manufacture and adapted to operate safely for long periods of time.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent, or be pointed out further, during the description to follow.

As an example, and for purposes of illustration only, two embodiments of the invention are shown in the annexed drawings, wherein:

vFigure 1 is a perspective View of a corner of a hatch showing the clamps in use,

Figure 2 is a side View of the type of clamp shown in Figure 1,

Figure 3 is an horizontal section taken on line 3 3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the battenengaging bolt,

Figure 5 is a vertical section through the clamp showing the bolt in extended position,

Figure 6 is a similar View but with the bolt retracted,

Figure 7 is a side view similar to Figure 2 but showing a modified clamp secured to the -side of the hatch, and

Figure 8 is a front elevation of the clamp shown in Figure "1.

Referring to the drawings, wherein similar referenlce characters represent corresponding parts throughout, the reference letter D indicates generally the deck of a ship, and above which deck the hatch sides H extend vertically, as usual. The said sides, when the hatch is being closed, support the boards or planks P over which the canvas or tarpaulin T is disposed. The battens B are the strips for securing the downward edges of the tarpaulin against leakage.

As shown in Figure 1, the battened hatch has disposed therearound a plurality of clamps ac cording to the invention, which clamps are represented generally by the letter C, the purpose of said clamps being to press the :battens securely in place.

Briefly described, the clamp of the invention consists of a frame or body in which a bolt `is slidable, said bolt being pressed against the batten by means of an eccentric cam operated by a suitable tool such as a Spanner, wrench or the like. Said cam is provided with undulations which, in combination with a suitable notch in the bolt, are adapted toretain its position against Vibration, shocks and the like. A second smaller cam is also used to retract the bolt when the main cam is released, so as to free the bolt from salt incrush tations, ice and the like.

The body of the'clamp B is a block affecting a general rectangular shape and the front part of which is hollowed out so that an upper tongue =5 and lower tongue 6, both disposed in parallel position, project forwardly from the 'back' of said body which is solid to the exception of a square aperture l formed therein to receive the bolt 8. Ears IB are also formed sideways from the lower part ofthe body and serve to secure the clamp to the deck D by means of the rivets II or the like.

The bolt shown in Figure 4 includes the bolt proper 8 slidable in the aperture 'I and provided with a flat extension I2 provided at the outer end with an upturned flange I3, the inside curvature of which is made to conform withan auxiliary retracting cam to be described later. The said extension has a longitudinal elongated slot I4 and a vertical V-shaped notch I5 in the rear face thereof, the purpose 0f which will be described also.

The means for actuating the bolt, or pressing said bolt against the batten, consists of a cam Il of substantially circular cross-section and provided on the periphery thereof with a series of Vertical concave depressions I8, the meeting points of which forming ridges or ribs I9 adapted to engage the notch I5 of the bolt so as to lock the cam in place. A stop is provided in the form of a spur or projection 2B, which is normally higher than the ribs I9. The said bolt-actuating cam is adapted to be disposed lbetween the tongues 5 and 6, at the forward end thereof, so as to be rotated therein by means of a special pin 22 including a square head 23, a .shoulder 24 fitting in a suitable round aperture of the upper tongue 5, a square shank 25 which enters a similar square bore formed eccentricallywith respect to the periphery of the cam and which pin extends at its lower end through the lower tongue 6 in a suitable aperture concentric with that of the upper tongue. A cotter pin or the like ele- 3 ment 26 is provided to prevent withdrawal of the pin 22.

As shown to advantage in Figures 5 and 6, the bottom of the cam II is reduced to form an auxiliary retracting cam 28 shaped to correspond with the contour of the main cam and engaging the upturned curved flange I3 of the bolt 8. Thus, the said bolt can be retracted positively by the auxiliary cam acting on the curved flange. Due to the fact that the pin 22 enters the slot I4 of the extension I2, said `pin acts as a guide to prevent lateral movement of the extension and, consequently, an improper functioning of the cam 28.

The modied form shown in Figures 7 and 8 is very substantially the same as that just described to the exception of the means for mounting the clamp onto the side of the hatch proper instead of on the deck. For that purpose, a bracket is cast integralwith the body, on the underside thereof, and includes ears 30 formed as integral lateral extensions of the flange 3l depending downwardly from the rear of the clamp body and braced to the forward part thereof by means of the web 32. Rivets or the like 33 are used to secure the ears to the hatch.

The clamps just described are operated by engaging the square head of the pin 22 and turning the same clockwise for expelling the bolt outwardly. Inasmuch as the main operating cam is eccentrically mounted on the shank of the pin, the said rotation of the pin will cause the cam to force the bolt against the hatten. Further rotation of the pin will eventually press the said bolt strongly against said batteri, the ribs of the cam engaging the notch on the inner face of the bolt. As previously stated, the vcomlcaination of the rib and notch acts asa lock to prevent accidental loosening of the cam by vibration, shock or the like.

The smaller auxiliary retracting cam, is used solely for retracting the bolt should said last become wedged in the body by stalks, rock or ice. Normally, the resiliency of the canvas tarpaulin between the batten and the hatch 5 is suiiicient to permit loosening the bolt by the simple expedient of rotating the pin counter-clockwise; however, when it is desired to retract the bolt further inward, the auxiliary cam is obviously of great use.

From the preceding description it should be evident that the present invention is an advance of the art in that it enables the rapid and safe battening of hatches, even under adverse conditions. Since no loose parts are used, in contrast to the old style of wedges, sledged in place, the clamp of the invention is a distinct improvement since all that is necessary to batten the hatch is a spanner or the like for operation of the pin. In adverse conditions such as icing of the ship in cold weather, the present clamp can still be actuated easily, since any ice formed on the clamp can be easily broken until the head of the operating pin can be reached; thereafter, the cam can be easily rotated, since it clears itself of ice or other accumulation, with comparative ease.

It must be understood that various changes as to the size, shape and arrangement of parts can be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope `of the subjoined claim.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

In hatten-clamping means, a body, a battenengaging bolt slidable in said body, spaced parallel tongues extending from one end of said body, a corrugated cam rotatably mounted be tween said tongues having a periphery engageable with the bolt to positively slide the latter, notch means on the cam-engaging surface of the bolt for disengageably securing the corrugated cam in locked position, an auxiliary bolt-retracting cam formed on said rst cam, an extension on the bolt for engagement by the auxiliary cam, and a rotatable pin for actuating both cams for extending the bolt and retracting same.

ONE'SIME LAMOTHE. JOSEPH ALBERT LAMOTHE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 312,315 Aurand et al Feb. 17, 1885 590,305 Dunham Sept. 21, 1897 901,771 Atwater Oct. 20, 1908 1,319,610 Norling Oct. 21, 1919 1,509,923 Berryman Sept. 30, 1924 1,539,828 Campbell June 2, 1925 2,095,037 Reintjes Oct. 5, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 19,113 Great Britain Sept, 5, 1903 

